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LEVELLING UP THE UK

Long-standing inequality between and within regions is holding back millions of households and acting as a drag on economic prosperity. The UK government is therefore right to establish levelling up as its primary mission alongside the transition to net zero.

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HOW CAN LOCAL PEOPLE TAKE ACTION ON WHAT MATTERS TO THEM?

Building collective control and capacity for action How can local people build control and take action on things that matter to them? Our research shows that there are five main components of collective control: social connectedness; knowledge, understanding, and skills;

Central and local government

Green economic recovery – Hampshire County Council

Hampshire County Council commissioned NEF Consulting to support them to create a strategy for green economic recovery that: Improves living standards rather than simply targeting GVA growth. Supports the creation of good, secure jobs. Reduces greenhouse gas emissions in the

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How cost effective are social ventures?

December 2019: Unemployment had fallen to its lowest level since 1975.  The gap in the employment rate between disabled and non-disabled people in the UK was at 28.1 per cent. At the same time, UnLtd and NEF Consulting were looking at this issue as part of a new study into the impact of social entrepreneurs.

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ESCAPING GREEN DEPRIVATION

Many people in Britain have no choice but to travel to get safe access to green space. When Boris Johnson rode out across London during lockdown, reportedly cycling seven miles from his home, he drew criticism for not following the spirit

Environment & Climate Change

Why say ‘No’ to Leeds Bradford Airport expansion

Leeds Bradford Airport expansion could see up to £3.1bn leave the local economy. New analysis by NEF Consulting shows that plans for the airport’s expansion also overestimated the number of new jobs by over a third. The proposed Leeds Bradford

Green spaces and wellbeing
Environment & Climate Change

New report explores how to value the countryside

New research from NEF Consulting, commissioned by CPRE Hampshire, the countryside charity, explores the value of the countryside in South Hampshire. CPRE Hampshire is campaigning for a new Green Belt in South Hampshire. The report, Introducing a South Hampshire Green

Urban and rural development

Parks are for everyone

Green space is important for wellbeing but in poorer areas visits to parks have dropped. Official government guidance during lockdown advises us to ​“enjoy nature” and exercise outside once a day. When accessing green spaces, people should ​“stay local” while keeping ​“at least two metres apart

Charities and volunteering

Women in crisis and the coronavirus

In our research for the Help through Crisis programme, we looked at gendered causes of crisis, emerging themes, and how they relate to the coronavirus pandemic. A decade of austerity has left our welfare system ill-equipped to respond to the

Volunteers in crisis support
Health and community services

Volunteers alone cannot fill the gap

The coronavirus pandemic has underscored the need for a universal safety net. The government’s 2020 budget, and subsequent measures, tried to bring in temporary changes to social security and “do whatever it takes” to respond to the threat of coronavirus.